Tools / Chords / D 9th

D 9th chord on guitar (D9)

Also written D9 or D

D 9th is built from D, F♯, A, C and E. This advanced barre shape at the 9th fret requires a strong index barre and a muted high e string.

9th fret10-9-10-9-10-×

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

D1Root

F♯3Major 3rd

A5Perfect 5th

C♭7Minor 7th

E99th

Formula 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionD–F♯–A–C–ED9Bass D

First inversionF♯–A–C–E–DD9/F♯Bass F♯

Second inversionA–C–E–D–F♯D9/ABass A

Third inversionC–E–D–F♯–AD9/CBass C

Fourth inversionE–D–F♯–A–CD9/EBass E

Why it sounds like that

D 9th combines a D major triad (1, 3, 5) with a minor seventh and a major ninth: 1, 3, 5, ♭7, 9. The ♭7 C and 9 E give it a dominant quality. Compare it with D 7th, which lacks the ninth.

What goes wrong with D 9th?

Letting the index barre collapse so the G string buzzes at fret 9.
Allowing the high e string to ring open, which adds an unwanted E above the chord.
Placing the ring finger on the G string instead of the D string, losing the fifth.

When to use it

D 9th functions as the dominant in G major, appearing in progressions like G–C–D–G (I–IV–V–I). It suits blues, funk and jazz-rock. Compare it with D major to hear how the seventh and ninth add tension.

Changing to and from D 9th

Move to C 9th by sliding the shape down two frets to the 7th fret.
Move to E♭ 9th by sliding the shape up one fret to the 10th fret.

Which voicing to use

The 9th fret and 10th fret voicings both have D in the bass, but the 10th fret version adds the ninth on top. The D9/F♯ inversion places the third in the bass for a smoother sound.

How do you play a D 9th chord on guitar?

9th fret

Barre● On the diagram

D 9th is played at the 9th fret as 10 9 10 9 10 ×: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the low E string at fret 10, ring finger on the D string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 10. The high e string stays muted.

Tip — The index barre must fret the A string and the G string cleanly while the pinky reaches fret 10 on the B string.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	10	2	D (1)
5 (A)	9	1 (barre)	F♯ (3)
4 (D)	10	3	C (♭7)
3 (G)	9	1 (barre)	E (9)
2 (B)	10	4	A (5)
1 (e)	muted	—	—

10th fret

Barre

D 9th is played at the 10th fret as 10 12 10 11 10 12: barre your index finger across fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 12, middle finger on the G string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 12.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	10	1 (barre)	D (1)
5 (A)	12	3	A (5)
4 (D)	10	1 (barre)	C (♭7)
3 (G)	11	2	F♯ (3)
2 (B)	10	1 (barre)	A (5)
1 (e)	12	4	E (9)

D9/F♯ inversion · 2-0-0-2-1-0

Beginner

D 9th is played in open position as 2 0 0 2 1 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The A, D and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	2	F♯ (3)
5 (A)	open	—	A (5)
4 (D)	open	—	D (1)
3 (G)	2	3	A (5)
2 (B)	1	1	C (♭7)
1 (e)	open	—	E (9)

D9/F♯ inversion · 2-3-0-2-1-0

Beginner

D 9th is played in open position as 2 3 0 2 1 0: middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the B string at fret 1. The D and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	2	F♯ (3)
5 (A)	3	4	C (♭7)
4 (D)	open	—	D (1)
3 (G)	2	3	A (5)
2 (B)	1	1	C (♭7)
1 (e)	open	—	E (9)

D9/F♯ inversion · 2-3-0-2-3-0

Beginner

D 9th is played in open position as 2 3 0 2 3 0: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 3. The D and high e strings ring open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
6 (E)	2	1	F♯ (3)
5 (A)	3	3	C (♭7)
4 (D)	open	—	D (1)
3 (G)	2	2	A (5)
2 (B)	3	4	D (1)
1 (e)	open	—	E (9)

Common questions

How is D 9th written?

D 9th is written as D9. The symbol D9 always means a dominant ninth chord with a minor seventh and a major ninth.

What is the difference between D 9th and D add 9?

D 9th includes the minor seventh C, while D add 9 is a D major triad with the ninth E added and no seventh. The add 9 sounds more consonant and less bluesy.

Why does the D9/F♯ inversion have a different bass note?

The D9/F♯ inversion places the third, F♯, in the bass instead of the root D. This creates a smoother stepwise bass line when moving between chords in G major.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

D (1)

5 (A)

1 (barre)

F♯ (3)

4 (D)

C (♭7)

3 (G)

1 (barre)

E (9)

2 (B)

A (5)

1 (e)

muted

—

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

1 (barre)

D (1)

5 (A)

A (5)

4 (D)

1 (barre)

C (♭7)

3 (G)

F♯ (3)

2 (B)

1 (barre)

A (5)

1 (e)

E (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (3)

5 (A)

open

—

A (5)

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

C (♭7)

1 (e)

open

—

E (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (3)

5 (A)

C (♭7)

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

C (♭7)

1 (e)

open

—

E (9)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

6 (E)

F♯ (3)

5 (A)

C (♭7)

4 (D)

open

—

D (1)

3 (G)

A (5)

2 (B)

D (1)

1 (e)

open

—

E (9)